Stripper: Booker messages blown out of proportion

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, laughs with Newark Mayor and senate candidate Cory Booker in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Newark charter schools. A new poll shows the U.S. Senate race between Newark Mayor Cory Booker and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan is tightening as Lonegan accuses Booker of being more interested in Hollywood than New Jersey. Christie endorsed Lonegan but is close with Booker. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A dancer at an Oregon vegan strip club says her online interactions with U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker are innocent, and says she didn't communicate with the Newark, N.J., mayor outside of Twitter.

Lynsie Lee, the 26-year-old stripper at Casa Diablo in Portland, Ore., tells The Associated Press the exchange with Booker is being blown out of proportion.

Lee described the interaction as "G-rated flirting," not anything "secret or sexy." She provided a screenshot of the exchange Wednesday to the website BuzzFeed.

Booker says the episode isn't going to change anything about how he uses Twitter.

The Democrat told reporters Thursday he communicates with thousands of people on Twitter and doesn't pay attention to their handles or profession.

The 44-year-old Booker, who is single, exchanged direct messages with Lee in February.